I thank the Cathaoirleach for choosing this item for discussion on the Adjournment. I join previous speakers in welcoming the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Browne, and congratulate him on his return to office after a brief aberration. It is good to see him back again.
Scoil Croí Íosa, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo is probably the best model of integration in Ireland. It consists of 246 students, of which 53 come from 12 different nationalities. There is also a high proportion of Traveller children. The people of Ballyhaunis are very proud that, at a time when xenophobia seems to be sweeping the country and there is a frightening outbreak of racism, we have such a merger of so many different cultures within a small community, and that all are working in mutual respect with each other. That is the reason there is gross disappointment in the local community that the new amalgamated primary school, Scoil Croí Íosa, has not been afforded the accommodation it deserves.
The school is an amalgamation of St. Mary's primary school and St. Joseph's primary school. However, instead of being on one campus, the amalgamated school is on split campuses. The junior school is located in a building over 100 years old with many steps and stairs. This flies in the face of the recommendations, provisions and requirements of the Health and Safety Authority not to have children of four, five and six years of age in such accommodation. The two schools are a quarter of a mile apart and the situation is totally unsatisfactory. There are 246 students and 18 teachers, yet the principal does not have an office as it has to be used for class hall provision.
Amalgamations can often be long, tedious and tortuous, but, in this case, the school serves as a model because the amalgamation was voluntary and the process concluded within six months. Therefore, there was a legitimate expectation that, having merged so successfully in such a short period, the application to the Department of Education and Science would receive favourable consideration.
I received a letter from the Minister for Education and Science two weeks ago in which he stated that, for financial reasons, the Department would not be in a position to start architectural planning for a major building project at Scoil Croí Íosa in the foreseeable future. Allowing for financial constraints, one would imagine that at least the architectural planning would be allowed to go ahead. However, it will be light years before this becomes a reality because to move from approval for planning through the five relevant stages is a process that takes years.
The project is urgently needed. The school requires two additional classrooms, eight rooms for resource teachers, a general purpose room, a computer room, a principal's office, a storage area, a music room and facilities for special needs children. For the Minister for Education and Science to send out a letter essentially saying that, for the foreseeable future and financial reasons, architectural planning cannot go ahead is totally unacceptable. It flies in the face of the assertions by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance that what we are witnessing across the public sector are mere adjustments. This is a blatant and unjustified cutback. I plead with the Minister of State to bring to the attention of his colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, the urgent needs of this school.
The school sees itself as a special case. It is a model of integration and co-operation and one that can be held up as an example to other communities where there is xenophobia and paranoia regarding the presence of non-nationals. The school demonstrates that it is possible to have a merger of identities and ethnic backgrounds, and to have children playing, working, being educated and living together. I ask the Minister of State to bring this urgent and special case to the attention of his colleague and amend the decision taken by the Department that even architectural planning cannot go ahead. It is surely possible, notwithstanding the state of the public finances, to at least allow planning to go ahead in order that, when finance comes on stream, the school can be seen for what it is – an urgent priority.